Phonograph



June 2, 1942. 1.. o. Nos-mu ETAL' ,836

PH NGGRAPH- Filed April 22, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INQENTO 5 Leland Bil bran I ATTORNEYS June 2,1942. 1.. o, NORTON am. 2,284,833

PHONOGRAPH I Filed April 22, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 June 2, 1942. L-.. b. NORTON ETAL' 2,284,336

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RNEYS June 2 1942. a... n. wwwrow ET m.

PHONOGRAPH Filed April. 22, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 nt T w. M m mm T mg .m LUM J e 19420 1.. m. NGEWON mm. 2,284,336

I PHONOGRAPH Filed April 22, 1936 6 Shaets=$heet 6 ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1942 PHONOGRAPH Leland D. Norton and John E. Renholdt, Bridgeport, Conn., assignors to Dictaphone Corporaton, New York, N. Y.,' a corporation of New York Application April 22, 1936, Serial No. 75,660

2 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs and more particularly to phonographs of the record cylinder type for electrically recording ,and reproducing dictated or othermatter. In the present embodiment of the invention an electro-magnetic element suitably related to an acoustically and mag netically responsive diaphragm andserving reversibly either as a sound'receiving or transmitting device, may be connected alternatively to an electro-magnetic recorder or to a piezo-electric pick-up or reproducer.

The recording and reproducing devices are both mounted upon a carriage movable-for recording in an advancing direction relatively to a record supporting mandrel by the engagement of a feed nut with a rotatable feed screw in awell known manner, and movable in a reverse direction to any desired extent by means of a known form of backspacing mechanism.

Phonographs designed for both recording and reproducing dictation are now generally so constructed and arranged that the carriage for the recording and reproducing mechanism may at any time be manually moved or mechanically backspaced with respect to the record tablet, so

as to enable the dictator to reproduce previously recorded matter. When a dictator, using such a phonograph for recording dictation, desires to reproduce previously dictated matter, it is necessary first, to manually readjust the recording and reproducing mechanism to neutral position; sec- 0nd, to move the carriage backwardly along the record tab-let a distance depending upon the amount of matter to be reproduced; and third, to

set the recording and reproducing mechanism in reproducing position. The apparatus is then in condition for reproducing and the dictator may listen to the recorded matter.

When the reproduction of such matter has been completed and it is desired to dictate further, it is necessary for the dictator to again manipulate while the reproducing stylus remains in engagement with the record tablet with the result that no recording is obtained.

Heretofore various forms of mechanism and controls therefor have been designed with the object of making some or all of these operations in themselves more or less automatic, some stages in the control of the mechanism from recording to backspacing, then to reproducing, and finally again to recording condition, being designed to follow one another in an automatic manner. In one such arrangement a microphone element served both as a receiver and transmitter, and also a single electrical translation device or-sound box served both for recording and reproducing operations. Magnetically operating remote control means were provided for changing the drive of the machine from a condition providing advance movement for recording to one providing a backward movement, during the operation of which control means the recording and reproducing styli were shifted from recording to reproducing position in relation both to the record on the mandrel and to the electro-magnetic sound box. At the end of the backspacing movement it was further. possible by the operation of a magnetically operating start and stop control to cause-the carriage again to advance, with the reproducing stylus in operative relation to the record. In order that at the end of reproducing, the sound box might automatically be reconditioned for recording, an advance slide or marker was provided which, normally travelling along with the carriage during its recording movement, was left behind to mark the point of farthest advance 7 of the carriage when the latter was backspaced preliminary to the reproduction of recordedmatter. This advance slide, when again picked upby the carriage in its advancing reproducing movement, acted upon certain machine elements automatically to change the sound box and styli from reproducingto recording condition.

In the main, the objects sought for attainment by the present invention are similar, but since in the present instance the recording device and reproducing device are separate and distinct from one another though both borne by the same carriage, it is necessary, when changing from recording to reproducing condition and also when changing from reproducing to recording position, not only to change the relationship of the recorder and reproducer relatively to the record, but also to change the circuit connections of these devices in relation to the single microphone, servingas a receiver-transmitter device; and since, in orderto have suflicient energy in the voice or speaking circuits to effect satisfactory recording or reproduction, it is advantageous to include an amplifier in such circuits, the change from one condition to another includes reversing the connections to and,

of recording, efficiently and simply, and by theuse of a single remote control, successively and automatically to condition the recorder and reproducer mechanisms and their electric circuit connections for reproducing operation, effect a backspacing movement of the carriage, then effect an advance movement of the carriage during which movement the record is reproduced, and when the carriage reaches the point where the backspace movement began, immediately recondition the recorder and reproducer mochanisms and their electric circuit connections for subsequent recording.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea tures of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an electric dictating machine embodying the invention, the front of the sub-base or motor box being removed to show the driving motor and, in vertical section, the clutch mechanism associated therewith. This view also shows a magnetically operated circuit changer in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine as Viewed from the left of Fig; 1, the end of the motor box being cut away. The section through the motor shaft and clutch is taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the carriage for the recorder and reproducer and also a farthest advance marker, in right elevation.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the backspacing mechanism substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the carriage in left side elevation.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken on line 1'| of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a switch carried by the advance marker as viewed from the position of line 88 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken substantially on line 99 of Fig. 2 showing in enlarged detail a portion of the backspace actuating mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a detail View of certain pafi of the backspace actuating mechanism omitting parts lying in front of line ||l-|0 of Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged perspective views of cooperating parts of the backspace actuating mechanism.

Fig. 13 is an elevation of the magnetically operated circuit changing switch, taken on line |3-|3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken on line l4-l4 of Fig. 13.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are wiring diagrams showing the various electric circuits of the machine. with control devices conditioned for backspacing, recording and reproducing.

Fig. 18 is in part an elevation and in part a longitudinal section of a hand unit including a microphone and remote control switches; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the carriage, the advance marker and the carriage guide rod.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the phonograph will be seen to comprise a frame the base 50 of which is hinged as a cover for a motor box or sub-base 5|. The frame also comprises an integral housing 52, serving as a bearing for a mandrel shaft 53, and leftand right-hand standards 54 and 55.

M andrel drive The mandrel shaft is provided with a record support or mandrel 56 at one end and a fixed pulley 51 at its other end. Power for driving the pulley '5! is derived from an electric motor 58 located in the sub-base or motor box and resiliently suspended from the base 50 in any suitable manner. Engaging the pulley 51 is a belt 59 which extends through an opening in the base plate 50 to a pulley 60 mounted on the left-hand end of a short countershaft 6|. The right-hand end of the shaft 6| is connected through a clutch mechanism 62 to the shaft 63 of the driving motor. The clutch 62 comprises a sleeve 64 fixed to the inner end of the shaft 6| by means of a set screw 65. This sleeve is also rotatably supported on the outer end of the motor shaft 63, the said sleeve surrounding the adjacent ends of the two aligned shafts.

As shown in Fig. 1, in the lower part of the sleeve a pin 66 is mounted transversely with respect to the axis of the two shafts, and a latch 4 61 provided with a projecting abutment 68 is pivotally mounted on said pin. Bearing downwardly against the left-hand'end of the latch 61 is a pressure spring 69 held in place by means of the set screw 65. This spring tends normally to turn the latch 6! in a counter-clockwise direction about the pin 66. When the latch is rotated sufficiently under the pressure of the spring 69, the right-hand end of the latch engages a depending lug 10 on a drive dog "H, which is fixed upon the motor shaft. When the latch and lug are in engagement the shaft 6| is connected to the motor shaft so that operation of the motor will rotate the pulley 60, and through the belt 59 and pulley 51 drive the mandrel and mandrel shaft.

Since the latch is normally biased by its spring into clutching relation with driving dog 1| means is provided normally to hold the latching member out of clutching relation with the said dog against the reaction of the spring 69. This means comprises a camming lever 12 best seen in Fig. 2 which in its normal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, holds the clutch elements in an unclutched condition. The camming lever '12 is connected by pin and slot arrangement with the armature 13 of an electro-magnet 14 which magnet has an energizing coil 15. When the magnet is energized the armature 13 is drawn up throwing the camming lever 12 out of contact with the latch lug 68 so that the latch under the influence of its spring makes engagement with lug l0 connecting the motor with the shaft 6|.

The disconnecting action is made possible by the formation of the free end of the lever 12 which is tapered to form a cam against which the downwardly projecting abutment 68 on the latch member, rotating with its associated parts,

will impinge when the lever I2 returns to the position it will occupy when the magnet is de-energized. When the abutment 68 engages the at a definite speed ratio with relation to the mandrel shaft by a train of gears, not shown, connecting said feed screw with the mandrel shaft.

The carriage A carriage 11 upon which is mounted an electic-magnetic recorder I8 and a piezo-electric reproducer I9 is supported for longitudinal movement relatively to the record support 56 upon a front main carriage rod 89, pivotally mounted between standards 54 and 55 and adapted to serve as a rock shaft for operating backspacing mechanism, indicated generally by the reference numeral 9|, formingpart of the carriage equipment.

The carriage has a rearwardly extending portion 92 (see Fig. 6) which at its end hassliding engagement with a rear carriage rod 83 rigidly supported at one end by the housing 52 and at the other by the standard 55. V

The carriage is further provided with a control lever 84 pivotally mounted upon a carriage sleeve 95 which surrounds the carriage rod or rock shaft 89 and is slidable thereon. This control lever, as will be more fully described here inafter, serves the double purpose of alternatively conditioning the recording and reproducing devices in an operative or in a non-operative relationship to the record support, and of simultaneously engaging or disengaging a feed nut 85 with the feed screw I6. When this lever is in its raised position, the carriage may be freely moved to and fro upon the guide rods by hand. When the carriage feed nut is in engagement with the feed screw, the carriage may be moved from left to right for the purpose of recording dictation upon a record cylinder carried upon the mandrel or, when properly conditioned, to reproduce as sound waves matter previously recorded.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the feed nut 86 is carried upon one end of a lever 81 pivoted at 88 and having at its upper end a portion 89 disposed in operative relation to a cam 99 formed upon the lever 84. Thus when the lever 84 is lifted, the lever 81 is moved about its axis to remove the feed nut 86 from the feed screw I6.

, Backspacing mechanism on the carriage The carriage may also be backspaced automatically by remote control through mechanism, hereinafter described, for oscillating the rock shaft 89, which rock shaft is connected in a known manner by means of a' movable spline ill with the carriage sleeve in such a way as upon repeated oscillation of the rock shaft to, effect a continuous step-by-step backspacing movement of the carriage. Connected-also with this backspacing mechanism is means adapted to lift the feednut from the feed screw each time the rock shaft moves in a dimeably to support the bushing I9I.

tion to backspace the carriage, the release taking place prior to the action of the backspacing mechanism. Forming part of the carriage backspacing mechanism is a cam sleeve 92 which effects operation of the feed nut to disengaged position, and simultaneously by reason of a cam projection 93 engaging the end of a lever 94 rocks the said lever about its pivot 95 to throw the upper end 96 toward the front of the machine to hold the reproducing stylus in a centralized position as will be hereinafter described. For a more detailed description of the backspacing mechanism comprising the movable spline, its camming connection with the carriage and the feed nut actuating connections, reference may be made to U. S. Patent No. 2,079,180.

Backspacing mechanism on the frame .ing. The left-hand bracket 54 of the frame is bored at I93 and counterbored as at I94 to provide a shoulder at I95. This shoulder forms a stop for the inner end of a sleeve I96 press fitted within the counterbore I94, and adapted rotat- The latter is provided with a flange I9I for engagement with the said inner end of sleeve I96.

Beyond the outer end of sleeve I96 which is flush with the outer wall of the bracket, the

bushing I M extends a short distance at a slightly reduced diameter providing a seat I98 for a loosely mounted washer or collar I99. Beyond the seat I98 the bushing extends at a still smaller diameter to provide a projection H9, squared on two sides as at II I. Upon this projection is mounted non-rotatively a crank arm I I2. The outer end of bushing I9I is drilled and tapped to receive a shoulder screw H3 carrying rotatably mounted thereon a control lever II4 which is adjustably secured to the crank H2 at the upper ends of the two members by means of a cap screw H5 threaded into the crank arm and passing through a slot I I6 in the control lever. Between the control lever and the shoulder of screw H3 is provided a flanged sleeve III.

Preferably the power for rocking the rockshaft 89 is taken from the pulley 51. For this purpose, the hub of the pulley is provided with cams II9 adapted to engage an interponent II9 pivotally mounted on the sleeve II'I loosely enough to rock or cant sideways thereon. The interponent is coupled with the control lever II 4 by a tongue I29 which fits loosely within a slot I2I in the control lever. When the end I22 of the interponent lies in the path of the cams 'I I8, the interponent will be, by engagement with said cams, intermittently rocked, rocking with it the control lever which in turn operates the rockshaft 89 through the crank arm H2. This operation will continue indefinitely so long as the end I22 of the interponent is allowed to remain in the path of the cams.

123 having a cam surface I24 arranged to be engaged by a lug I25 on the interponent' H9. The trip lever is pivotally mounted on a stud I26 and when released from engagement with the lug I25 by means hereinafter described, permits the interponent to cant sideways to swing its end I22 into the path of the cams H8 by a spring I21 carried by a stud IN. This canting movement is permitted by the loose mounting of the interponent on the sleeve HT, and the interponent is kept in coupled arrangement with the control lever II4 during this movement by the pin-and-slot connection I20, I2I. The stud I21 is threaded into the control lever H4 and passes loosely through an opening in the interponent.

After eachoperation of the interponent II 9 by actuation of the trip lever II4, it is automatically rendered inoperative by being moved out of range of the cams IIS'by the re-engagement of the lug I25 with the trip lever as the latter returns to its normal position after being actuated and released, and is then in position to engage the lug I25 with its cam surface I24 to swing the interponent out of the path of cams IIB.

It will be understood that if the trip lever is held in its actuated position, the interponent will continue to lie in the path of the cams H8, and the step-by-step backspacing movement w ll continue until the carriage reaches the limit of its backward travel. After each forward rocking movement of the rock shaft, control lever and interponent, these parts are returned to their normal position of rest by the spring I28 which connects a rearwardly extending lower arm I29 of the control lever with the frame of the machine. The said position of rest is determined by the engagement of a cushioned abutment I38 on the control lever with an adjustable stop I3I on the frame. For a more complete showing of the rockshaft rocking mechanism above described, reference may be had to U. S. Patents 1,649,965 and 1,983,039.

Remote control is provided for effecting actuation of the trip lever I23. This comprises a solenoid I32, the core I33 of which is connected to the lower end'of the strip lever by a pin-andslot connection I34. This solenoid is suitably mounted on the base plate 58 and is energized for backspacing the carriage by electrical connection with the power circuit of motor 58 through the manual closing of a switch I35 by means of a push button I36 mounted upon the microphone supporting hand unit I31, as will be more fully described in connection with the wiring diagrams, Figs. 15, 16 and 17.

When the solenoid core is attracted by energization of the solenoid coil the trip lever is moved to release the lug on the interponent II9, thus conditioning the machine for intermittent and continuous backspacing as above described. Upon de-energizing the solenoid by release of the push button, the trip lever is returned to its unactuated position by means of a spring I38 extending between the said lever and the front of the frame, and as explained above the interponent is forced out. of the path of the cams II 8, and the backspacing operation terminated.

Recording and reproducing devices and their condition controlling mechanisms Referring to Figs. 1 to? of the drawings, the front portion of the carriage will be seen to be curved concentrically with respect to the mandrel. The upper part of this curved front divides to form a half yoke as at I40 in Fig. 1. At the upper end of this yoke a plate I4I, formed integrally with the yoke or secured thereto in any desired manner, extends rearwardly above the mandrel inclining upwardly at a slight angle from'the horizontal, and depending therefrom at its rear end is a downwardly extending plate I42 disposed substantially at right angles therewith and located behind the mandrel. These two right angularly joined plates support the recording and reproducing devices, together with means for effecting the conditioning of said devices for recordingand reproducing, for free shifting of the carriage by hand and for remote control backspacing.

The recorder I8, best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 6, comprises a recording stylus I43 supported at one end of a stylus carrier I44 pivoted at I45 between a pair of downwardly extending bracket members forming part of a weight lever I46 which at its forward end is pivoted, as at I41, for rotational movement about a horizontal axis, between the downwardly extending sides I43 of a bracket secured to or forming part of a circular base I49, which base is formed and adapted to fit within a circular socket I50 located in the plate I4I forwardly of the mandrel axis. A rod i5I operatively connects the stylus carrier with a vibratory member of any suitable translation device capable of causing vibration of the stylus carrier in accordance with the frequency and magnitude characteristics of voice currents acting upon the said device. Preferably an electromagnetic motor, not shown, mounted within the cover 18 is employed for this purpose.

The weight and manner of control of the weight lever I 46 is such that the stylus is normally held in operative engagement with the record cylinder. At the rear of the weight lever I46 there extends still farther to the rear of the machine a tongue I52 which may be best seen in Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 7. When the weight lever is not lifted by the engagement of the stylus with a record, the tongue I52 will normally rest upon the forwardly extending arm I53 of a lever I54 pivoted at I55 in the rear carriage plate I42. This lever is pivotally connected as at I56 to a link I51, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the core I58 of a solenoid I59 whose purpose will be more fully described hereinafter. In the normal unexcited condition of the solenoid, the arm I53 of said lever I54 is held in the pggition shown by means of a compression spring Mounted to swing about a pivot I60 in the back plate I42 in a path substantially parallel to said back plate, is a bracket member IGI having an upwardly extendin arm I62 and a forwardly extending arm I63. Pivotally supported as at I64 upon said bracket is a dog-leg shaped lever I65 which is slotted for a distance between its ends so as loosely to embrace the bracket I6I and is movable about its pivot I64 toward and away from the record and, by reason of the pivotal'mounting of the bracket I6I, is adapted to have limited movement laterally in respect to the sound track upon a mandrel supported record cylinder.

At its lower end the lever IE5 supports in any ,suitable manner a piezo-electric reproducing unit or pick-up which comprises, in its construction, a reproducing jewel or stylus I66 supported by means of a resilient member I61 exteriorly of an insulative and protective case I68 within which is operatively mounted a piezo-electric crystal unit I69 inc1uding electrodes, not shown,which may be connected by means of flexible leads I:

and I1I to the input circuit of any suitable voltage amplifier;

In the present embodiment of the invention such an amplifier, indicated by'thenumeral in the wiring diagrams, may have its output circuit connected to the microphone unit 4I mounted within the hand unit I31, Fig. 18 of the drawings. This microphonemay also be connected by a circuit changing device 42, to be hereinafter described, to the input circuit of the amplifier 48 'which would thenby the same circuit changing means have its output circuitconnected to the magnetic recorder 18.

pivotally connected, as at I82, see Figs. 3 and 4', to a crank arm I83. The latter is adjustably clamped by means of a screw I84 upon a shaft I85 supported in bearings I86 depending from the under side of the carriage plate I4I. At its opposite end this shaft carries a bent rod I81 which is formed to underlie the tongue I52 of the recorder weight lever I46. Another bent rod I'81" carried by shaft I85 is provided with a plate I88 adapted to engage an upwardly facing plane sur: face I89 of lever arm I14. a

When the carriage lever 84 is in its lower position the members I81 and I88 will stand as in Fig. 7 and have no effect upon the position of The reproducer "stylus or jewel supporting I83 of bracket I6I in such a Way as to pull the reproducer unit toward the record. However, 7

under ordinary conditions the reproducer stylus will not be ableto engage the record since the forward movement of thelower end of the reproducer supporting lever I85 is limited by the engagement of the upper end I'14 of such lever with an abutment I15 on the lever I54. The normal position of lever I54 is such that the recording stylus I43 may engagethe surface of a record of maximum or minimum thickness. When, however, the solenoid core I58 and lever I54 are drawn up by energization of the solenoid I59 against the reaction of spring I59, the recorder is lifted oh the record by arm I53 of lever I54 and, since during this movement of the lever the abutment I15 lifts away from the forward end I14 of lever I 65, said lever I55 may move forwardly about its pivot 164 until the reproducing stylus comes into operativecontact with the record cylinder; When the solenoid is de-energized the lever I54 will again be moved 1 to its normalpOSitiOllbY the spring Q59" forcing. the reproduc fully described in connection with the wiring 'dia 4 operative relation to the record/to a condition wherein both recorder andreproducer, are inoperatively stationed with respect to the record. This is accomplished by means of the conditioning lever 84, hereinbefore mentioned. The lever 84 is provided with a forwardly projectinglug I16 (see Figs. 1 and 6) which, when said lever 84 is manually raised, engages and swings upwardly an arm I11 pivotally mounted on the carriage by a screw I18. Arm I11 is pivotally connected as at I18 with a push rod I which, passing through an opening I8I in the carriage yoke, extends up- Wardly and rearwardly to-a point beneath the rear portion of the carriage plate I4I whereitis the recorder and reproducer elements; butwhen the lever 84 is lifted to rock the shaft I85 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. 3 and 7, the rod I81 will engage the tongue I52 and lift the weight lever I46 so as to render the recorder inoperative in respect to the record. At: the

same time the plate I88 will descend upon the plane surface I89 of lever I85 moving the end I14 of said lever slightly'away from theabutment I15, thus withdrawing the reproducerfurther away from the record cylinder and at the sametime, by reason of the engagement of the two plane surfaces I88 and I89, effecting a cen-' tralizing of the reproducer element in respect to a vertical plane passing through the axis I60.

Lateral movement of the reproducer unit about the axis I68 is provided to permit lateral freedom of movement of the reproducing stylus sothatitmay follow the sound track on the record freely and without danger of skipping from one track to another. Also, since the reproducer stylus is a tracer element, it musthave this freedom to prevent the side walls of the record groove from binding the reproducer stylus. "and; preventing its accurately following the hilland-dale sound track. During operation the reproducing stylus is apt to lag behind the travel advance of the carriage; thus, by providing means for bringing the reproducer to a centralized position while it is'oif the record, as-

surance may be had that when brought into en-' gagement with the record the reproducer stylus will be properly positioned.

Mechanism has been described hereinbefore for backspacingthe carriage step by step toward the beginning of the sound track on the record cylinder, that is, toward the left end of the cylinder as seen from the .front of the machine. Since this backspacing in the'present machine is remotely controlled, it is necessary that'the recorder be automatically brought to its inoperative position before actual backspacing begins. It will be understood that if the dictator has recorded certain matter on the record cylinder and wishes to goback to some point in such recorded matter to have it repeated, he may accomplish this either by raisingthe carriage lever 84 and sliding the carriage by hand to the desired point, or, with the carriage lever 84 untouched, may by operating the remote backspace control energize the solenoid I59 and so recondition the parts that the recorderis held off the record and the reproducer is permitted 7 to engage the record, as hereinbefore described. During automatic backspacing the reproducer will be backspaced with the carriage with its stylus in engagement with the record cylinder.

Since this backward movement of the carriage' and the drag of the cylinder tends to turn the reproducer unit about its axis I60 out of its backspacing, the machine is conditioned for reproducing, the reproducing stylus may improperly engage the sound track on the record, means is provided for positively centralizing the reproducing mechanism each time the backspacing mechanism makes one of its intermitten step by step movements. This means comprises a lever I90: (.best seen in Figs. 4 and 5) pivoted in a lug on'the-under side of the carriage plate I, as at I9I,- and extending beyond the transverse centerline of the carriage. Centrally disposed with respect to said transverse centerline, a V-notch I92 is formed'in the lever I90 the walls of which notch are adapted to be brought into engagement with the upper end of arm I62 of bracket I6I to positively centralize the bracket I6I and thereproducer unit carried thereby.

'Lever I90 is moved into engagement with arm I62 by means of a link I94 which is pivotally connected at I95 with the lever I90 and at its forward end is provided with a slot I93 through which the upper end 96 of the hereinbeforementioned lever 94extends. A spring I96 connects the saidlever end 96 to a lug I91 on link I94 so as normally to hold link I94 in a forward position with lever end 96 located at the rear end of slot I93 and the notch I 92 out of registry with arm I62. During backspacing. each time the rock shaft 80 oscillates to backspace the carriage,

the lever end 96 is swung toward the front of the carriage. This movement is transmitted to the link I94 through the spring I96, resiliently effecting a forward movement of lever I90 into centering engagement with the bracket I61.

Since it is desirable, when the parts are automatically changed from recording to reproducing condition by the energization of the solenoid, to prevent such rapid action of the solenoid connected parts as to cause the reproducing stylus too actively to engage the record cylinder and perhaps damage the delicate piezo-crystal unit, theforward end of lever I54 is connected by means of a rod I98 to the plunger I99 of a dashpot 200. The action of this dash-pot slows up the response of the parts to solenoid energization and likewise, when the magnet is de-energized, retards the movements of the same parts in response to the reaction of spring I59, thus preventing the recording stylus from returning to its normal position in contact with the record cylinder with too great force.

-It will be apparent through reference to Figs. 3, 5; 6 and '7, that the solenoid I59 is mounted upon the carriage plate I4! rearwardly of the recorder,- and it will be understood that all parts not intended to be influencedby magnetic action are preferably made of non-magnetic material such as brass or suitable aluminum alloys.

Advance marker slide Mounted on the carriage and extending outwardly from the side bf the carriage in the direction of the forward advance thereof (the right side in Fig. l) is a pin 20I (see Figs, 1, 3 and 8) adapted during the normal operation of the machine for recording to separate the contacts 202 and 203 of a switch 204 mounted upon a farthest advance marker plate 205. This plate, shaped somewhat-like the lower portion 82 of the carriage, is slidably mounted to the right of the carriage upon the carriage rods 80 and 03. Switch 204 comprises a short spring contact member 206 and along spring contact member 201 insulated from each other and from the marker plate by suitable insulation plates 208,

and fastened to theadvance or right side of the marker plate by means of screws 209.

When the marker plate and carriage are brought together side by side, pin 20I, passing through a hole 2I0 in the marker plate, engages the longer spring member 201 and forces it away from spring member 206 a sufficient distance to break contact between the switch members. When the carriage and marker are separated slightly as by a single backspacing movement of the carriage, the consequent withdrawal of pin 20I permits engagement of the switch contacts thus closing an electric circuit therethrough, as will be hereinafter described. It should be understood at this point that the translation devices on the carriage cannot be conditioned electrically for recording unless the carriage and marker are together and the circuit between the switch contacts broken.

When during operation of the machine, after first lifting the carriage lever 04, the carriage is" moved to its initial position adjacent the left end of the mandrel, as when it is desired to change records, it is desirable, in order that the recorder may be in operative condition, simultaneously to return the advance marker along therewith. Co: operating means, best seen in Fig. 19, located respectively on the carriage and the marker accomplish this purpose. 'The means on the carriage comprises a marker return lever 2| I, rotatively mounted on the carriage sleeve at the right side of the carriage. The carriage sleeve is reduced in diameter beyond the side of lever 2 I I as at 85 to provide a threaded portion adapted to receive a nut 2 I 2 which, when turned down to the shoulder provided by said reduction in the sleeve diameter, will hold the lever 2 I I in pivoted relation to the said sleeve.

The forward end of the marker plate 205 is provided with a sleeve 205' slidably mounted on the carriage rod 80, said sleeve being provided with a collar 205 of larger diameter on the side adjacent the carriage. This collar is cut away to provide a relatively Wide sector-shaped notch 2I3 and a relatively narrow sector-shaped notch 2M, the latter located in that part of the collar which lies nearest the carriage. Thus is formed an abutment 2I5. Rigidly mounted in and pass ing through a portion-of lever 2II in horizontal alignment with the notch 2 I4 is a rod 2 I6 one end of which is bent down to form a book 2 I7 which normally lies beyond notch 2I4 within notch 2I3 when thecarriage and marker are side by side, and which is adapted, when the lever 2 is raised, to pass behind the abutment 2I5 and thus lock the carriage and marker together, whereby the marker is compelled to return with the carriage when the latter is moved to its initial position.

A shoulder 2I8 formed on carriage lever 84 provides a notch 2I9 between said shoulder and the lug I16, hereinbefore mentioned. The location of this notch is such that when both levers 84 and 2H are in their lower positions as during recording, the extended rod 2I6 passes therethrough at a point just forwardly of said lug I16. In this position of the parts the lever 84 may be raised to release the feed nut from the feed screw and to condition the translation devices inoperatively in respect to the record without shifting the lever 2H, so that the carriage may be moved to the left by hand without changing the advance marker from its position of farthest ad- Vance.

On the other hand, when the lever 2 II is the .machine. see Figs. IQ and 2.

raised to lock carriage and marker together, the

lever 84 is also-raised by contact of the rod 2H5 with the lug I16, thusconditioning the carriage elements for free movement Qtcarriage'and remaining in its raised position, because of the 1 reaction of the-feed nut lever 89 and lever 94 upon the respective cams 9B and 93 until again lowered by hand by the dictator. To prevent too free movement of the advance marker it is provided'with a frictioning device comprising a set screw 220 which seats with adjustable pressure against 'a friction washer 22I disposed in a I threaded opening 222 formed in the collar 205",

the said washer being in contact with the carriage rod 80. i

M icrophone" hand unit The microphone hand unit I31 (see Fig. 18) includes a mouthpiece I31 secured in any desired manner to a handle I31". The electro-magnetic microphone 4 I serving both as receiver and transmitter for the phonograph, is mounted in operative relation to the mouthpiece within the upper part of the handle. Any microphone of this type having proper characteristics may be employed and may include in its construction a vibratory magnetically attractable diaphragm K M suitably mounted in operative relation to the poles 4| of any suitable electro-magnetic microphone unit 4 I mounted within an insulative casing li i l The backspace control switch I35, mounted within the handle I31" has already been mentioned. f lt is a three-pole. switch comprising spring contact members I35 I35 and I35 suitably supported in the insulation block I 3 5 Normally these contacts are biased out of engagement but may be broughttogether by pressing the push button I36. .As will be described hereinafter, this switch also constitutes. one of the controls for effecting operation of the circuit changer 42." i

Suitably mounted Within the handle I31" below the switch I35 is a double pole. switch 223 comprising spring contact members 223 and 223 normally biased out ofcontact but capable of being brought together by depression of a start and stop button 224. The latter switch controls 5 directly the rotation of the mandreland carriage feed and is connected in circuit with the clutch magnet 14.

the wiring diagrams, Figs. 15, 16 andqll, as comprising inone operable unit a four-pole double throw switch havingits central terminals a and b permanently connected by means of wires 23%) and 23I to the input circuit of amplifier 40 and its central terminals 0 and d permanently con-;

nectedby means of wires 232 and 233 to the out- ;put circuit of said amplifier, and a two-pole single throw switch having terminals e and 1 both 7 net 14 and also with contact 223* of start and Mounted in the rear wall of the motor box is a socket 225 adapted by means of a plug 226 to connect the phonograph to any suitable source of electric energy, such for instance as a (SO-cycle house circuit. All of the electricdevices included in the phonograph construction derive energy for operation from this source. v

A manually operable switch 221 of any suitable construction is mounted beneath the base 59 of This switch, operable by means of a finger lever 228, serves as a main switch located between the plug and circuits of the machine. .It, will be understood that in accordance with known practice the switch 221 may be connected to a mouthpiece support or record-ejector for automatic operation thereby.

' Circuit changer socket 225-226, and the variousp'ower receiving.

- switch I35.

permanently connected by wire 234 to a wire A, connecting the cold side of main switch 221 to contact 223 of the start and stop switch 223.

The hot side of switch 221'is connected by a main lead A' with one contact of socket 225 and thus to one side of the power circuit. The other side of the power circuit is connetced through socket 225 to a main return lead B.

The circuit changer 42 is normally biased by means of a spring 43 (see Fig. l) in the position indicated in, Fig. 16, at which time the machine is conditioned for recording but may be thrown to the backspaceand reproducing position indi cated in Figs; 15 and 11 by the energization of a magnet. Specific details of the structure of the circuit changer and its operative association with magnet 44 will be described more fully here'- inafter. i

The switch terminals (1, b, c and d are respectively adapted to. be connected alternatively with a set of terminals a, b", c, d or with a set of terminalsa", b", c, d" and the terminals e and and 1 may be connected respectively with terminals e" and 7",. The microphone 4| is connected by means of wires 235 and 23% with the terminals a and b and by means of wires 231 and 238 with switch terminals of and d". The recorder18 is connected by means of wires 239 and 240 with terminals 0" and d and thereproducer 19 is connected by means of wires MI and 242 with terminal a and b. Terminal e" is connected by a wire 243 with one end of the coil of clutch magstop switch'f223; Terminal 1 is connected by a 'wire 244 with'one end of the coil of the recorder and reproducer conditioning magnet I529. The other ends of the coils of magnets 14 and I59 connect with main return wire B.

Afwire 245 connects line A with con'act, I35 of the backspace and circuit changer control Contact I35 is connected by wire 246 with contact 295 of the advance marker switch 2&4. Contact I35 is connected by wire 241 with one end of the coil of the backspacer actuating magnet I32, the other end of which coil connects with return lead B. Contact 2G1 of advance marker switch 284 connects with wire 2'34 and thus with line A". The wire 246 not only connects switch 234 with contact I35 of. switch I36 but also connects said contact with the ciruit changer magnet 44 through wire M8, the

magnet being also connected by wire 249 with return lead B. Itwill thus be seen that switches l 204 and 835 are in shunt to one another in respect to magnet 44, each being therefore capable of controlling the operation of the circuit changer. The machine motor is connected between leads A and B bymeans of wires 255! and I and the power supply for the-amplifier 4K3 from leads A and B is by means of wires 252 and 2553.

Referringto Figs. 1, 1 3and 14, the circuit changer 42 comprises an upright block Iii, made of any suitable insulating materialsuch as that known under the trade name of Bakelite, which is secured to the bottom of the motor box bymeans of screws I I threaded into an angularly disposed portion I2 of the block. Through member Ill are threaded brass or other suitable metal screws I3 to provide the switch terminals a, c, d, and a", b", c", d", e", f". To the'heads of these screws may be soldered the appropriate wires connecting them to their respective circuits. Secured within recesses I4 at the ends of the block I 0 area pair of bracket members I5, which carry at their extremities a pair of aligned screws I6 constituting pivots for supporting for oscillatory movement a second and smaller insulation block I'I. U-shaped metallic plates I8 embracing the ends of block I! are provided with sockets (not shown) adapted to cooperate with the pivot scews I6.

To the plate I8 at one end of the block IIthere is pivotally connected one end of a link I9, as by means of screw 29, the other end of which link is connected by means of a screw 22 to the armature 22 of the magnet 44. This magnet may be of any suitable construction and may be mounted as by means of a bracket 23 secured to the portion I2 of block I0. The armature 22 is mounted to rock about a pivot 24 toward the magnet pole 25, when the coil 26 is excited and thus eifect a rocking movement of the block I'l against the reaction of the tension spring 43.

Rigidly mounted in the block I I midway between the pairs of terminal screws I3 is a plurality of studs 21 each of which projects beyondthe outer surface of the block I I and has loosely mounted thereon a bridge member 28 made of brass or other conductive material. The ends of each of said bridge members are adapted to make contact with one or the other of the pairs'of screws 53, as for instance with either a or a", dependingupon whether the block I? is under the control of the magnet or the spring. Of course where a bridge member is not intended to make double throw connections there will be I no screw I3 placed to coact with one of its ends.

As was said above, each bridge member is loosely mounted on its respective stud but is normally held flatly against the surface of block I! by means of a compression spring 29 which surrounds the stud and is held between washers 30. The outer washer is retained on the stud by a cotter pin 3i. This mounting of the bridge members is provided so that they may make contact with one set of screws I3 before the block 57 has completed its rocking movement. Thus contact is assured without danger of doing damage to the bridge member or its supporting stud. To avoid damage by sparking when the switch contacts make and break, the coacting surfaces are preferably coated with. silver or some other suitable metal 'or metallic alloy.

7 Eachbridge member is provided in the plane of the axis of the block I! with a lug 32, overlying a hole 33 in the block W, and directly behind the hole there is mounted in the block ID a terminal screw 34 to which may be attached one of the permanent switch connections a, b, c, d, 1e or f. A short piece of flexible wire 35 connects each of these terminal screws with the lug of its respective bridge member, Since certain of the switch contacts are included in circuits carrying voice currents, the circuit changer is preferably shielded as by means of metal covers 36 and 31, and the contacts belonging to the several circuits which might have an inductive effect upon one another are preferably further shielded by means of metal partitions 38.

While the circuit changer has been described in detail it is not so claimed in the present aping contacts 0'', d

plication since in its specific'form it is not the joint invention of the present applicants.

Manner of operation The operation of the dictating machine may be best understood by referring to the wiring diagrams, and first to Fig. 16, which shows the various circuits conditioned for recording... In this figure the main switch 221 is shown as having been closed to connect the power line A with 224, wire 243, and return lead B, and operates the clutch to start mandrel rotation since the circuit through the motor 58 has been completed with the closing of switch 221. Also the power sup lied to the amplifier through wires 252 .and 253 has become effective to supply energy to the tubes of the amplifier.

At this time the spring 43 holds circuit changer 42 in the condition indicated in Fig. 16. Thus the bridging members of the circuit changer have connected the switch contacts a, b, c and d with a, b, c and d. The microphone M is now operatively connected through wires 235, 236 to switch contacts a, b, and wires 23E 23I, to the input of the amplifier, the output of the amplifier being connected by wires 232 and 233 to switch contacts 0, d, and wires 239, 240 to the recorder 78. 7

Assuming that the carriage is in its initial position at the left end of the record cylinder and that the advance marker is in contact therewith, the contact members of switch 204 will be held out of engagement by the pin 20L The dictator may now make a record upon the record cylin der, continuing, should he desire, until the entire record is filled with recorded matter.

Should he at any time while dictating wish to repeat any portion of what he has said, he may do so by releasing the start and stop button 224 thus discontinuing the circuit through the switch 223, and by operation of the backspace button I 35 cause engagement of the three contacts of switch I35 as indicated in Fig. 15. Under these conditions current will fiow through lead A, wire 245 to switch contact I35, contact I35 wire 246, wire 248, circuit changer magnet 44 and wire 249 to wire 13, thus energizing the magnet 44 and changing the circuit changer from its condition for recording to its condition for backspacing :and reproducing, the terminals a, b, c, d, e, f being connected with switch contacts a, b, 0'', d7! e!!! f. I I

Through these new connections the reproducer I9 is connected to the input of the amplifier, the output of which is connected through the switch to the microphone 4I by wires 231, 238 connectwith the wires 235, 236 of the microphone circuit. Simultaneously the recorder and reproducer control magnet I59 is energized through wires 234, contacts I, f", wire 244 and return lead B. ;V/ith the energization of magnet I59 the lever I54 (see Figs. 3 and 7) is raised, lifting the recorder weight lever I46 and the stylus I43 so that the stylus is clear of the record,. and by withdrawal from contact of the shoulder I15 with the arm I14 of lever I65, permitting lever I55 to swing forwardly under the reaction of spring I13 until the reproducingstylus I66 engages the sound record.

Simultaneously with the energization of the reproducer magnet, the clutch magnet 14 takes current from the circuit comprising wire 234, switch elements e, e and wire 243, and the backspace magnet I32 becomes energized by current flowing through wires A, wire 245, switch 135, Wire 241, and return lead B. The energization of the backspace magnet causes the interponent member H9 to be thrown into the path of the cams H8 as above described thus effecting a repeated rocking of the rock shaft or carriage rod 80 in synchronism with the rotation of the belt pulley 51.

The rocking of the rock shaft effects step-bystep backspacing of the carriage for so long as the backspace switch I35 is held closed by means of the button [36. However, the first movement of the carriage in a backspacing direction separates the carriage from the advance marker and immediately the switch contacts 206, 201 engage one another closing a circuit'through wires A, wire 234, switch 204, wire 248, circuit changer magnet 44, wire 249 and return wire B. Thus switch 294 has taken over the oflice of switch 136 in respect to the circuit changer magnet 44 causing the circuit changer to remain in the backspace reproducing position shown in Figs. 15 and 17 even after release of backspace button I36; This latter condition is shown in Fig. 1'1.

As a result, after the operator has backspaced as long as he wishes, he may release backspace button l36 on the hand unit, and, since the circuit changer is held in its reproducing position by means of the magnet 44, maintained as just described, the clutch magnet 14 will continue to be energized through switch contacts 6, e", wire 243 and returnlead B, and the operator may listen to the reproduction of the record from the point where backspacing stopped for as long as he chooses or until the carriage again comes in contact with the advance marker,' when the carriage pin 20! again opens the contacts of switch 204, thus de-energizing the magnet 44, whereupon the circuit changer immediately goes back to recording condition, as in Fig. 16, under the influence of the spring 43, and all of the parts will again be completely conditioned for recording as soon as the operator presses, the start and stop button 224 to close switch 223. 7

As related above, upon each operation of the rock shaft during backspacing, the reproducing stylus is moved to and held in a centralized position by reason of the engagement of notch I92 of lever I90 with the upper arm I62 of lever IGI. Thus during backspacing the reproducing stylus is held against lateral movement and may glide backward over the record surface without being thrown out of position and thus be ready engage both the recording and reproducing styli from contact with the record to effect a centralizing of the reproducing unit and raise the feed nut from the feed screw. He may then slide the carriage and advance marker by hand to their initial position. Upon release of care riage lever 2! l, lever 84 will remain'in the raised position holding the styli clear 01 the record so that the record may be removed without danger of scratching its surface or damaging the recorder or reproducer mechanisms. After a new record has been put upon the cylinder the carriage lever 84 must be again lowered to bring the recording stylus down upon the record, preparing the machine for recording as above described.

It should be noted that in the event the carriage be conditioned neutrally by manipulation of lever 84 instead of lever 2H and then moved toward its initial position, the advance marker will not be locked in engagement with the carriage and so will be left in its position of farthest advance. Since this separation of carriage and marker slide will permit engagement of switch contacts 2% and 201, the magnet 44 will be energized to shift the circuit changer to reproducing position thus putting the clutch in driving'condition if or when the feed wire A is connected to wire A by means of the-main switch 221. The machine will accordingly immediatel become active to reproduce dictation after any such manually produced backward movement of the carriage.

' We claim:

1. In a phonograph, a carriage supporting a recording stylus and a reproducing stylus alternatively shii'table into engagement with a record tablet, said carriage being mounted to advance or backspace in relation to said tablet, means for advancing said carriage, means for imparting a backspacing movement to said carriage, means for controlling the operation of said backspacing means, a relay operable in response to operation of said backspace controlling means, a shifting mechanism connected to and operable in response to operation of said relay to shift said reproducing stylus into engagement with said record table when said backspace control means is operated, and means associated with said carriage and connected tosaid relay independently of said backspace control means automatically to maintain said relay in operated position and said reproducing stylus in shifted position after backspacing movement has been imparted to said carriage.

2. In a phonograph,in combination, a carriage supporting a sound reproducing means operable in relation to a recording medium, said carriage being mounted to advance or backspace in relationto said medium, means for advancing said'carriage including a clutch, means for imparting a backspacing movement to said carriage also including said clutch, means controlling the operation of said backspacing means, a relay operable in response to operation of said backspace controlling means, shifting means connected to and operable in response to operation of said relay to render both said reproducing means and said clutch operative when said backspace control means is operated, and means associated with said carriage and with a device for marking a point of farthest advance of said carriage connected to said relay independently of said backspace control means automatically to effect operation f said relay at any point in the path of travel of said carriage rearwardly of the point of travel of said carriage corresponding to the position occupied by said device.

LELAND D. NORTON. JOHN E. RENHOLDT. 

